The best-known work of “The Red Priest” Antonio Vivaldi has become a staple of a Vancouver Christmas. VSO concertmaster Dale Barltrop leads a performance, with Astor Piazzola’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires as a tango-oriented take on a similar theme.

Dec. 21-22, 8 pm | Chan Centre

Tickets $26.75-66: www.vancouversymphony.ca/

A Christmas Reprise 2012

As its own gift for the season, Vancouver Cantata Singers provides a musical sanity break in the midst of the final, chaotic pre-Christmas days. Paula Kremer guest-conducts the ensemble.

Dec. 22, 2 pm | Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver

Dec. 22, 2 pm | Holy Rosary Cathedral

Tickets $18 at www.brownpapertickets.com/

Don Juan

Vancouver’s Blackbird Theatre stages Moliere’s comedy, written in 1665. Following the escapades of a notorious womanizer, who boasts a 1,000 sexual conquests, the play was banned after two weeks—but because of its intriguingly modern tone, it remains a timeless classic. Peter Jorgensen stars as the legendary hero-villan and the music features a new rock mass in Latin by composer Peter Berring.

Dec. 26-Jan. 26 | The Cultch

Tickets $17 at tickets.thecultch.com/

Jon and Roy Holiday Special

For a band that peddles in tender hippie-folk pop, ala Ben Harper, scoring a Volkswagen commercial would be considered a peak achievement and that’s exactly what this Victoira trio did a few years ago. The exposure scored the young group tours with Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd. This year marks their second Vogue Theatre Holiday Special, for which they gather favourite local acts (including Frazy Ford, Vince Vacarro, Wake Owl and Kim Churchill) to celebrate the season.

Dec. 21, 8 p.m. | Vogue Theatre

Tickets $25: voguetheatre.com

Unsilent Night

Sunday, December 23, 2012

7:00pm until 9:00pm in PST

The holiday music parade moves to a new location this year, Commercial Drive. Bring a boombox or Ipod speaker-system on which to play Phil Kline’s shimmering score. Also new this year: The phone app.

Dec. 23, 7-9 p.m. | Commercial Drive

Free: Details at facebook.com/events/110323809136148

The Magic of Santa

Nine-year-old dynamo Natasha Taylor, from Ladner, stars in the new Christmas musical for kids two to 13. Produced by PNE’s Patrick Roberge (who just produced the Grey Cup show with Justin Beiber), the perky pop confection features a groovy cast of singing, dancing animals, trees and teddy-people, who help a real little girl seek her wish.

Dec. 21, 7 p.m.; Dec. 22, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm | Pacific Coliseum

Ticket $22.50 at www.ticketleader.ca/

The Sheepdogs

You know the story: In 2011, the Saskatoon bar band went from total obscurity to the cover of Rolling Stone after winning a demo contest—leading, of course, to unimagined riches: touring with their heros Kings of Leon, and recording their new album with Patrick Carney of the Black Keys, another band they revered. But could the shaggy Sounthern rockers deliver under pressure? Released in September, the self-titled disc soared to No. 1 in Canada and now their supporting cross-Canada tour is virutally sold out (including last night’s and tonight’s Vancouver shows). Yukon Blonde takes opening honours.

Dec. 20, 9:15 p.m. | Commodore

Tickets: Sold out

Winter Harp

The midiaval costume-wearing ensemble, which plays on harps of all types, has been on tour from Winnipeg to Victoria since late November but saves its final performance for Vancouver. The program ranges from well-known carols to Celtic, medieval, world and Spanish tunes.

Dec. 22 | St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church

Tickets at ticketstonight.ca

Carol Ships Parade of Lights

Stroll along the shore and take in a fleet of up to 50 boats decorated with lights and carrying choirs of carol singers.

Now until Dec. 23

carolships.org

Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna

Women take centre stage in Cirque du Soleil’s steamy new show, a feminist twist on Shakespears Tempest, featuring astonishing acrobatics (it’s hard to believe they’re not digitized), fantastic costumes and lighting, and an all female band that looks, and sounds, like the Runaways blened with Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie.

Now until Jan. 10 | Concord Pacific Place

cirquedusoleil.com

musica intima: home for Christmas

Working in tandem with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, musica intima launched the 2012 holiday season way back in pre-Advent November. Now the conductorless ensemble offers a just-before-Christmas program all on its own.

Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church Cathedral

Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. | Knox Presbyterian Church, New West

Tickets $10-$35: musicaintima.org

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Vancouver events: Sheepdogs, Jon and Roy, Magic of Santa and more

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